Odd Question about Dogs and Toads

[JLC]

Hey y'all!

Last night my dog was in the back yard by herself for a little while, while we had a "birthday cake picnic" on the living room floor. When we were done and I brought her back into the house, I noticed a medium sized common toad hopping off the patio.

Moments after bringing her into the house, I realized she was foaming at the mouth and had some slime on her muzzle and face. (I'm guessing the slime on her face came from shaking her head and flinging it from her mouth...or rubbing at it with a paw?)

I checked around for anything she could have gotten into, but our backyard is pretty tidy and there's not much out there. No kids had been playing with bubble-soap recently, so none of that was available to her.

Other than the foaming, which cleared up quickly after I brought her in and washed her mouth out, she was acting perfectly fine and normal. This morning, she was frantic to get outside to potty, which is unusual and she had some runny poos. But her appetite is normal and she seems completely fine now.

If she had grabbed that toad with her mouth...would it cause this kind of reaction? And if so...is there any lingering affects that I should be concerned about or watching for? Could our backyard toads be dangerous for her?

((And yes! I know I need to post updated pictures of her! I will soon, I promise!))

[wilomn]

The reaction your dog had is textbook for toad mouthing.

So long as she doesn't get an overdose, it's no big deal. If she gets hold of a big one though, that could be not so good.

I don't know what kind of alkaloids your toads release, but some dogs like the trip and go looking for toads once they realize the fun they can have with them.

Someone did a pretty good write up on it, or maybe it was a 20 20 episode. Check out fauna, I know there's more information on it out there.

[Brimstone111888]

I heard a long time ago about bigger toads that live in the southern states can be potentially harmful to other animals.

She sounds ok though if she is eating. I would just monitor the dog.

[LadyOhh]

I don't know what kind of alkaloids your toads release, but some dogs like the trip and go looking for toads once they realize the fun they can have with them.

Kinda like teenagers, eh??

[frankykeno]

I don't know what kind of alkaloids your toads release, but some dogs like the trip and go looking for toads once they realize the fun they can have with them.

Wow, this explains my sister-in-law's dog years ago that was constantly after the bloody toads! We never figured out why he did it since the affects seemed to us to be nasty. Darn toad addicted basset hounds!

Hope your pup learned her lesson, Judy and that she's just fine.

[janeothejungle]

The reaction your dog had is textbook for toad mouthing.

I don't know what kind of alkaloids your toads release, but some dogs like the trip and go looking for toads once they realize the fun they can have with them.

For real entertainment on this matter, see the documentary

Cane Toads: an unnatural history.

It ROCKS. and has a nice little section about a dog addicted to the lick.

Cheers,
Kat

[starmom]

Do you have cane toads in your area? These are highly toxic and can kill a dog.

[starmom]

These are Buffo toads (cane toads) and are highly toxic and can make a dog very ill, have heart arrhythmias, convulse, even die. Very bad and starts with excess saliva..... These toads come out at night and release the toxin through their head and back. There can even be enough toxin to sicken a dog if the frog jumps into, and then out of, the dog's water bowl.

[JLC]

Thanks for the info, guys! Indeed, I hope she "learned a lesson" that toads are not to be messed with. But who knows how much it takes for a dog to think something in its mouth is disgusting?

I'll do some more research on exactly what kind of toad we have here and how potentially toxic they can be. It might require several evenings of hanging around outside with her (and hoping for hoppers!) and squirting her with the water bottle anytime she goes near one.

[janeothejungle]

It's highly unlikely you have cane toads (unless you're an aussie), I was making the 'addicted to the lick' comparison.......


Cheers,
kat